What Do The Ingredients in My Moisturizer Do For My Skin?

You couldn’t go a day without water to hydrate your body, so you should hold moisturizer for your skin in the same regard. Both provide hydration for your body and keep you healthy – just in different ways.  Not to mention, it just feels refreshing applying it after getting out of the shower!

Moisturizer Ingredients

Why you need hydration for your skin:

  • To make your skin look healthy – smoother, softer, fresher looking
  • To attract water to your skin cells
  • For your skin to function at peak performance
  • For smoother makeup application
  • To prevent wrinkles and/or slow down the wrinkling process

When you are searching for a moisturizer, the labels can be overwhelming.  Let’s help you get to the bottom of what the different ingredients actually do:

  • Occlusives (such as dimethicone, petrolatum, paraffin, and lanolin) – form a barrier on the epidermis. This prevents the loss of water when skin is exposed to wind or dry air.
  • Emollients – fill spaces between rough or peeling skin cells. This smooths the surface of the skin. Mineral oil, lanolin, and petrolatum are occlusive agents that also act as emollients.
  • Humectants (such as alpha hydroxy acids, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, sorbitol, urea, propylene glycol, and sugars) attract water into the skin cells. This causes the skin surface to plump up (temporarily), which makes it appear smoother.
  • Caffeine – perking and plumping benefits. It helps with circulation and is also a powerful antioxidant, with the ability to calm red or irritated skin from rosacea and sun damage.
  • Vitamin Aencourages healthy skin cell production. Retinol, retina,l and retinoic acid are important to the production and growth or cells. It also stimulates fibroblasts—the cells responsible for developing tissue that keeps skin firm and healthy.

  • Vitamin B5 – stabilizes the skin barrier function, reducing the amount of water lost through the skin. Increases the skin’s hydration and improves its softness and elasticity. Ideal for the dry, scaly or rough skin.
  • Vitamin C –Treats dryness, age spots, wrinkles, and redness. Makes skin feel more firm. Brightens and evens your skin tone. Protects skins and fights skin damage.
  • Vitamin EBlocks free radicals from the body, which play a large part in the aging process. Reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots. Also known as a wound healer, protects skin, and fights skin damage.
  • PABA-Free SPF Sunscreens – help prevent premature lines and wrinkles by protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

So the moral of the story – moisturize every single day and protect your skin. No exceptions and no excuses! Be sure to read the ingredients before you buy.

Looking for high quality skincare? We carry some great product lines at our cosmetic and facial surgery clinic in Surrey. Call us for more information or come by to check them out yourself!